Zephyrhills Has The Talent To Be A Problem This Year

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Right after losing to Lake Wales in the second round of the state playoffs, 47-35, Zephyrhills head coach <strong>Nick Carroll</strong> and his staff quickly looked toward 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even though that loss stung and brought to an end one of the best seasons this program has enjoyed in years, there was plenty to be optimistic about as the Bulldogs looked ahead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finishing 11-1 and winning a district title is great for the coaches, players and fans, if this program truly wants to impact the state of Florida and be viewed as a true force, it's those big games that they have to win – and as the 2026 season is upon us, there is a feeling that this could be the year that this team takes a step further.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bulldogs will rely on a strong senior class – with Pittsburgh commit <strong>Sanylin Black</strong> (Athlete), athletic <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1681636' first='Zacary' last='Carroll']</strong> (LB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2175638' first='Bear' last='Keating']</strong> (QB), <strong>Kevin Kirkland</strong> (LB) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2089716' first='Jarvis' last='Warren']</strong> (WR/DB) returning.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Juniors <strong>Trae Hoyle</strong> (LB/TE) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1879580' first='Tyson' last='McCullough']</strong> (S) are also elite players to keep an eye on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If this team is to repeat and move that one step farther, the 2027 class will indeed be a huge place to start.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some of those seniors to watch:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lionell Bates Jr., LB, 5'9, 170.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/26421847/Lionell-Bates">https://www.hudl.com/profile/26421847/Lionell-Bates</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sanylin Black, DB, 6'0, 177.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19466868/Saniiyn-Black    ">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19466868/Saniiyn-Black    </a>                                      </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Marlin Carlson, LB, 5'11, 190.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22424841/Marlin-Carlson">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22424841/Marlin-Carlson</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1681636' first='Zacary' last='Carroll'], LB, 5'9, 190 – 4.0 GPA. Soccer. Weightlifting. 121 total tackles.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13698322/Zacary-Carroll">https://www.hudl.com/profile/13698322/Zacary-Carroll</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1681646' first='Julius' last='Denson'] III, Athlete, 6'1, 175 – 3.6 GPA. Track &amp; Field.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19505768/6a0fc5953b1f6545855837b0">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19505768/6a0fc5953b1f6545855837b0</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2194548' first='Brennen' last='Figgins'], LB, 5'6, 170 – 3.4 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19466730/6a0fd207a652b600d38bd1f4">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19466730/6a0fd207a652b600d38bd1f4</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jake Godfrey, OL, 5'10, 300.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19466737/Jake-Godfrey">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19466737/Jake-Godfrey</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Shakur Johnson, RB/DB, 5'10, 150.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22375388/SHAKUR-JOHNSON">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22375388/SHAKUR-JOHNSON</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tellius Lamar Johnson Jr., DL, 5'10, 225.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19466857/Tellius-Lamar-Johnson-Jr">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19466857/Tellius-Lamar-Johnson-Jr</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2175638' first='Bear' last='Keating'], QB, 6'2, 185 – 4.24 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19584079/Bear-Keating">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19584079/Bear-Keating</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kevin Kirkland, LB, 6'0, 195.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22326108/Kevin-Kirkland">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22326108/Kevin-Kirkland</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1681704' first='Jahmir' last='Lamar'], DL, 6'1, 220.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19466710/Jahmir-Lamar">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19466710/Jahmir-Lamar</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aiden Martinez, OL, 6'2, 260 – 3.7 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19662287/Aiden-Martinez">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19662287/Aiden-Martinez</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Shawn Pope, RB, 5'8, 160 – 2.8 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/29981688/Shawn-Pope">https://www.hudl.com/profile/29981688/Shawn-Pope</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2089715' first='Quinton' last='Single'], TE/WR, 6'4, 208 – 3.8 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19466800/Quinton-Single">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19466800/Quinton-Single</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Myron Stewart, DT, 5'10, 260.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/26443425/Myron-Stewart">https://www.hudl.com/profile/26443425/Myron-Stewart</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2089716' first='Jarvis' last='Warren'], WR/DB, 5'10, 155 – 3.5 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19614833/Jarvis-Warren">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19614833/Jarvis-Warren</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>KEEP AN EYE ON THE UNDERCLASSMEN AS WELL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the deep senior class will be huge, the Bulldogs will also look to the youngers prospects as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS OF 2028</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2201855' first='Jakson' last='Ferris'], OL, 6'2, 285 – 3.9 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22591776/Jakson-Ferris">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22591776/Jakson-Ferris</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Joshuan Howard, QB, 5'10, 160.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/26151527/Joshuan-Howard">https://www.hudl.com/profile/26151527/Joshuan-Howard</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Trae Hoyle, LB/TE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1879580' first='Tyson' last='McCullough'], S, 6'1, 183 – 3.2 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/22590727/690bf3739869406b1d483c22">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/22590727/690bf3739869406b1d483c22</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS OF 2029</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Landon Brown, Athlete, 5'10, 160.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/18303582/Landon-Brown">https://www.hudl.com/profile/18303582/Landon-Brown</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 ZEPHYRHILLS BULLDOGS SCHEDULE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8/21 - @The Villages Charter</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8/28 - @Wesley Chapel</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9/4 – Land O'Lakes</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9/11 - @Spring Hill Springstead</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9/18 – New Port Richey Gulf</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9/25 – Hudson Fivay</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10/2 - @New Port Richey River Ridge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10/9 - @Hudson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10/23 – Dade City Pasco</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10/30 - @Wesley Chapel Wiregrass Ranch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Statewide Coverage Daily. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/florida/">https://prepredzone.com/florida/</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: <strong>Floridakids1@aol.com.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>COACHES, PLAYERS: </strong>Do You Have A Subscription? Contact us for a savings code so you can see what everyone has been talking about! <strong>Floridakids1@aol.com.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->